Evaluation Tools to Support ITS Planning Process

FDOT Research #BD015-19

presented to

Model Advancement Committee

presented by

Mohammed Hadi, Ph.D., PE

November 24, 2008

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IDAS Limitations

Evaluate a large number of ITS deployments. However:

• Not consistent with the Florida calibrated models

• Requires manipulation of FSUTMS output files for use as inputs to the tool

• Software design and interfaces using 1990s software technologies

• Methods and some parameters selected in the 1990s

• Not flexible to allow evaluating new ITS elements and components, performance measures, etc.

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FDOT Project

Develop a tool and methods to perform ITS sketch planning evaluations as part of the FSUTMS/Cube environment

• No need for file conversion

• Use calibrated regional models

• Flexible and extendable evaluation environment

• Up to date methods and parameters

• Powerful data handling and modeling capabilities. State-of-the-art user interface of Cube

The project is a joint effort of the FDOT System Planning Office and the FDOT ITS Section

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Evaluated ITS Deployment (1)

Ramp Metering

Incident Management Systems

Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) and Dynamic Message Signs (DMS)

Advanced Travel Information Systems

Managed Lanes

Signal Control

Transit Vehicle Signal Priority

Emergency Vehicle Signal Priority

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Evaluated ITS Deployment (2)

Monitoring and Management of Fixed Route Transit

Transit Information Systems

Transit Security Systems

Transit Electronic Payment Systems

Smart Work Zones

Road Weather Information Systems

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Evaluation Tool

EvaluateITS

Benefits and Costs

Benefit Dollar Values

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Assessment Elements

Performance modules (emission, fuel consumption, safety, TT)

ITS impacts

ITS costs

Dollar values of benefits

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Benefit Evaluation Methods

A method developed for each component• Review and assessment of methods used in evaluation tools

• Review of literature

Default ITS impact parameters derived based on a review of previous evaluation studies, US DOT JPO benefit database and the values used in existing ITS sketch planning tools.

The user will be able to change the default ITS impact parameters and perform sensitivity analysis.

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Model Input

ITS Component

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Model Input for Incident Management (1)

Alternative Information

Alternative letter Modeling year Working directory

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Model Input for Incident Management (2)

Parameters from Demand Model

Auto occupancy Percentage of truck

trips in Truck_Taxi trips

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Model Input for Incident Management (3)

Input for ITS Applications

Analysis periods, days, and volume factor for each period

Type of incident management (Six combinations for incident management with or without DMS and HAR)

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Model Input for Incident Management (4)

Input for ITS Applications (Con’t)

Information type provided by DMS and HAR

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Model Input for Incident Management (4)

Deployment Location Indicate the links within the

coverage of incident management by adding one new attribute “IM” and assign the value of 1 to this attribute

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Model Input for Incident Management (5)

Analysis parameters

Incident information: frequency, duration, capacity reduction

Accident rate Truck type and fuel

consumption rate Vehicle class percentage

and emission rate for CO, HC, and NOx

Notes: Default values are provided, however, user can modify it based on local conditions.

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Model Input

Impact factors

Diversion rate due to DMS and HAR

Fatality reduction rate and crash reduction rate

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Model Input

Impact factors (Con’t)

Average trip length on the mainline and on the alternative route

Percentage of diverted vehicles using freeway

Road ranger service patrol activities and costs

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Model Input

Dollar Value

Dollar value of time Accident costs Fuel costs Emission costs

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Model Input

Equipment and Costs

Discount rate

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Model Input

Equipment and Costs (Con’t)

Equipment and unit costs for incident management, DMS, and HAR

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Modeling Procedure Example

Deployment Performance measures and

benefits Costs Benefit/Cost ratio

Overall Structure for Incident Management

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Add one new attribute to each link to indicate the type of incident management

Deployment

Modeling Procedure

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Initialize the output files Calculate the incident delay

and time savings Calculate reduction in

accident number and costs Calculate fuel savings

Performance Measures and Benefits

Modeling Procedure

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Performance Measures and Benefits (Con’t)

Modeling Procedure

Calculate the emission reductions

Calculate the monetary benefits of road ranger service patrol

Output the performance and summary of benefits

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Calculate the total number of study periods

Set all the initial values to be zero

Initialization

Performance Measures and Benefits

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Travel Time

Loop over all the analysis periods

Calculate the traffic volume during the study period

Prepare the calculation of travel time on alternative route

Calculate incident delay and total time savings

Save the performance and benefits for each analysis period

Performance Measures and Benefits

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Safety

Loop over all the analysis periods

Calculate number of fatalities, injuries, PDO

Calculate accident costs Save the performance and

benefits for each analysis

period

Performance Measures and Benefits

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Fuel Consumption

Loop over all the analysis periods

Calculate vehicle miles in queue and fuel consumption in queue

Calculate fuel savings Save the performance and

benefits for each analysis period

Performance Measures and Benefits

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Emissions

Loop over all the analysis periods

Calculate emissions of CO, HC, NOx due to the queues

Calculate emission reductions

Save the performance and benefits for each analysis period

Performance Measures and Benefits